Swimming pool cleaner apparatus

ABSTRACT

An ancillary component for a pool cleaner in the form of a cranked pipe connection is provided. The connection is to be fitted between a swivelable pool cleaner outlet and its flexible hose to provide an offset between the pool cleaner outlet and the hose. In so doing the connection facilitates relative rotation between the cleaner and the hose.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning swimming pools and more particularly to an ancillary component which renders swimming pool cleaners more effective.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] It is well known that swimming pool cleaners which operate on an interruption in the flow of water through the cleaner induced by the pool filtration plant suffer from certain disadvantages. One such disadvantage is the tendency for the cleaner to fail to move past obstacles in a pool. This frequently occurs when the cleaner is driven to contact a step in the pool and the pool cleaner fails to swivel on the end of a suction hose. The swivel must operate under the suction applied by the filter plant pump which tends to prevent free operation of the swivel.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of this invention to provide a means whereby the problem set out above can be to a large extent avoided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In accordance with this invention there is provided an ancillary component for a swimming pool cleaner comprising a cranked connection pipe for attachment to a pool cleaner outlet.

[0005] Further features of this invention provide for the cranked connection pipe to have an inlet at one end, attachable to the pool cleaner outlet, and an outlet at the other end, attachable to a flexible hose for the pool cleaner, and to provide an offset between the axis of the inlet and the axis of the outlet; for the offset to be between 30 mm and 100 mm; and for the offset to be about 50 mm.

[0006] Further features of this invention provide for the cranked connection pipe to be configured for substantially rotationless attachment to the pool cleaner outlet and to the hose, for the inlet and outlet to be configured to be a friction fit to the pool cleaner outlet and to the hose, respectively; for the inlet and the outlet of the cranked connection pipe to be configured to form a male coupling and a female coupling, the couplings corresponding to male and female couplings connecting the pool cleaner outlet and the hose, whereby the connection pipe can be fitted between the pool cleaner outlet and the hose; and for the cranked connection pipe to have end portions located adjacent the inlet and outlet, the end portions having substantially parallel axes with a cranked portion extending therebetween and inclined relative to the end portions.

[0007] Another aspect of the invention provides a pool cleaner assembly kit, comprising a pool cleaner, a hose and a cranked connection pipe attachable between the outlet of the pool cleaner and the hose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] One embodiment of the invention is described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawing:

[0009] FIG.1 which is a diagrammatic sketch of the connection located between a suction pool cleaner and its flexible hose.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] As shown the connection pipe (1) is fitted between a suction pool cleaner (2) and the flexible suction hose (3) leading from the cleaner (2) to the pool filtration plant (not shown).

[0011] The connection pipe has an outlet (4) at one end and an inlet (5) at the other. The inlet (5) is securable to the outlet of the pool cleaner (2) and the outlet (4) is securable to the hose (3). Adjacent each of the inlet (5) and the outlet (4) is an end portion. The end portions have substantially parallel axes and a cranked portion (7) extending therebetween.

[0012] To accommodate the conventional components for the usual direct attachment of the hose (3) to the cleaner (2) the connection pipe (1) has a male coupling at the inlet (5) and a female coupling at the outlet (4). It is moulded from rigid plastics material and the couplings are such that when positioned for use there will be no relative rotation between them and the components to which they are attached.

[0013] In use the cleaner operates in the usual manner with a normal filter plant pump inducing flow through the cleaner (2), the connection pipe (1) and the hose. It will be noted that the axis of the flow along the hose is offset at (6) by the connection pipe from the axis of the outlet from the pool cleaner and this offset affects the direction of the force acting on these components during operation of the cleaner.

[0014] The swivel in the pool cleaner assembly operates in the usual manner to provide a relative rotation between the hose (3) and the cleaner (2).

[0015] However the offset between the direction of the forces applied to these components through the connection pipe (1) affords a leverage for rotation of the swivel. The connection pipe (1) has been found to be satisfactorily effective when providing an offset as above described of between 30 mm and 100 mm.

[0016] The effect is shown in use to enable the application of the forces on the pool cleaner to easily cause twisting of the suction hose even over a relatively short length of 5 to 6 metres between weir connection and pool cleaner.

[0017] This twisting in turn results in a pool cleaner being driven away from a position relative to an obstruction to its normal movement and release from the obstruction, often with temporary release from the surface being cleaned.

[0018] The invention provides a simple solution to a long existing problem and to the difficulty resultant from the axial forces applied to the swivel connection between a pool cleaner and its hose.

[0019] A person skilled in the art will appreciate that a number of variations can be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. 

1. An ancillary component for a swimming pool cleaner comprising a cranked connection pipe for attachment to a pool cleaner outlet.
 2. An ancillary component for a swimming pool cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cranked connection pipe has an inlet at one end, attachable to the pool cleaner outlet, and an outlet at the other end, attachable to a flexible hose for the pool cleaner, and provides an offset between the axis of the inlet and the axis of the outlet.
 3. An ancillary component for a swimming pool cleaner as claimed in claim 2, wherein the offset is between 30 mm and 100 mm.
 4. An ancillary component for a swimming pool cleaner as claimed in claim 2, wherein the offset is about 50 mm.
 5. An ancillary component for a swimming pool cleaner as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cranked connection pipe is configured for substantially rotationless attachment to the pool cleaner outlet and to the hose.
 6. An ancillary component for a swimming pool cleaner as claimed in claims 2, wherein the inlet and outlet are configured to be a friction fit to the pool cleaner outlet and to the hose, respectively.
 7. An ancillary component for a swimming pool cleaner as claimed in claim 6, wherein the inlet and the outlet of the cranked connection pipe are configured to form a male coupling and a female coupling, the couplings corresponding to male and female couplings connecting the pool cleaner outlet and the hose, whereby the connection pipe can be fitted between the pool cleaner outlet and the hose.
 8. An ancillary component for a swimming pool cleaner as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cranked connection pipe has end portions located adjacent the inlet and outlet, the end portions having substantially parallel axes with a cranked portion extending therebetween and inclined relative to the end portions.
 9. A pool cleaner assembly kit, comprising a pool cleaner, a hose and a cranked connection pipe attachable between the outlet of the pool cleaner and the hose. 